Little Italy, NY Engagement Shoot | Ny Wedding Photography Inspiration by Vanessa Joy Photography

How beautiful is this engagement shoot in New York's Little Italy?! It looks like it comes straight from a vintage film. I love it! So photography is so romantic. sigh...

Details:
Photographer: Vanessa Joy Photography
Reception Venue:  Little Italy, New York



xo

Nick Verreos Will Be at Boston's Emerson College THIS MONDAY April 4th!!

Boston Rolls Out The "Rainbow Colored" Carpet...and the Runway...

Nick Verreos is Catwalking to Boston...on Monday night!!!

Tomorrow--as you may have read HERE, I am flying to Chicago to host a "Putting It All Together" Macy's Event at Macy's State Street on Saturday. And then, I'm off to Boston Massachusetts. Why Boston, you ask? Well, kids, I've been invited by the Fashion Society of Boston's Emerson College to give a very special lecture as part of their "Fashion Week Spring 2011" festivities.

In case you didn't know--The Fashion Society of Emerson College in Boston is celebrating Spring 2011 Fashion Week with several great events--fashion shows, a 'Top Model Contest"-- with ALL PROCEEDS going to The Trevor Project, best known for "It Gets Better" campaign.

As a big supporter of The Trevor Project, LGBT issues, and lover of Fashion...I am honored to be part of the events and on Monday April 4Th, I will be at Emerson College's Bill Bordy Theater for a very special appearance and lecture, entitled (Wait For It!)..."Fashion God: Nick Verreos" (if I can only LIVE up to that!!!). Of course, I'll also pose for Facebook pics afterward--and if you come, you have a good chance you might end up on THIS little ol' BLOG of mine because....YES, I will be posting a FUN Recap of my time in Emerson College! (in other words: DRESS to Impress Emerson College Fashionistas!!)

What: Nick Verreos Lecture on Fashion, Project Runway and LGBT Issues

When: Monday April 4, 2011 Time: 8-10PM

Where: Emerson College Boston, Bill Bordy Theater

*Click HERE for Entire Event Details

*For More Info. and Questions: Email fashionsociety@emerson.edu or ...RSVP on Facebook

Earn Your Stripes

Everywhere I look I'm seeing stripes! And I'm loving it.

I NEED this bathing suit! Too bad it's already sold out... :(

Prada is going to be making faux fur versions of this!! Yes please!

Britney Spears Femme Fetale Fashion Style by D&G

After dressing up Kylie Minogue, D&G dressed Britney Spears for the promotional photos of her newest album, Femme Fetale.




Photo Source: InStyle.com

The Royal Wedding Invitations | Kate and William's Luxury Wedding Invitations

I was so excited when Lela New York was asked by Brides.com to redesign the Royal Wedding Invitations of Prince William and Kate Middleton! Here is our version ;)

Mixing both classic and modern details I wanted to use our very popular silk gatefolds for the invite accessory and keeping the actual invitation card classic. We made a portrait style invitation and used a royal navy for the silk color that was custom embroidered in a deeper navy to give a rich texture. A gold version was also applied on the inside of the invitation which can be seen when the invite is opened. The center closure is a custom made emblem that has the Royal "ER" engraved in the center and adorned with crystal details.
The invitation itself is a cream extra thick cotton stock that has been beveled and printed in a traditional all script gold engraving.
The whole invitation would be sent in a custom diecut envelope that has a custom printed liner in a matching gold pattern.

Here is a closer look!

What do you guys think?
Here is the original invitation

xo

Lady Gaga's Birthday Gift*

March 28 Born This Day concert continued:

when Lady Gaga's bully got the role of Dorthy at school: “I will never forget it because I wanted to be Dorothy so bad," said Lady Gaga. "I was in 8th grade and she was a senior. I definitely deserved to get it, but I didn’t get it. I remember she would speak in the dressing room while she was getting ready, I was one of the people in the chorus, the worst role."

"She used to pour Coca Cola on her shoes to keep her from slipping on stage. She would pour Coca Cola on her shoes and look at me and say...”just in case I slip.”

"On behalf of myself and all of those bullied around the world, now these fucking ruby slippers are mine.”

Prior to singing 'Born This Way' she said, "When you don’t feel like Dorothy today, maybe you feel like someone on the chorus or the Scare Crow or maybe you feel like the Tin Man or the Wicked Witch--just know you will have opportunities in your real life to change things and maybe someone, somebody will hand you a pair of ruby slippers." (via Hollyscoop)

Born This Way (& Born This Day)

Had an amazing birthday*

-everything from surprise Lady GaGa concert tickets, friends, cakes, cupcakes, macaroons, & drinks-

Celebrated my birthday eve at Gaga's concert (she turned 25 yesterday, & I turned 23 today) with one of my best friends. We all sang her happy birthday, and the dancers brought her cake on stage along with an amazing gift: an original pair of Judy Garland's ruby red slippers, from "Wizard of Oz"*

her Birthday wish: Happiness for all her fans.

 p.s. a BIG thanks to all the readers & viewers of my blog; follow my Twitter :)

xo Maria 

FIDM San Francisco Open House 2011: My Photo Recap!!!

60's Shift Dresses, Fashionable Students, a Fun Lecture, and ...oh, Is That Miss Raja from "RuPaul's Drag Race"???

Nick Verreos, FIDM SF Entrance

This past weekend, I took a quick trip to one of my favorite cities (and old "stomping grounds")--San Francisco--to make a visit at the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising's San Francisco Campus, for their annual "Open House".

The FIDM SF campus is located right in the heart of Union Square, one of the BEST--and most famous--shopping meccas in the world. I always love coming to the campus because I just LOVE the entire FIDM SF team and they always "roll out the red carpet" for me.

In addition, I always love looking at the great window displays they have as soon as one gets out into the 5th Floor "lobby" area. This time around, they had a display entitled "Pop Goes The 60's", showing colorful fashions of the 60's--from the FIDM SF "vault"--including a sassy red plaid pantsuit--accessorized by a chic red hat/turban--as well as...

A lemon-yellow wrap dress and one of my favorites, the apple-green silk shantung shift dress with encrusted sequin trim seen above on the right. But enough about the chic window displays...now onto the Open House...

Speech Mode: Nick Verreos at FIDM SF Open House 2011

After an entire morning of students, parents and families taking a tour of the FIDM SF Campus and getting to meet former graduates, faculty, the FABULOUS library, and classrooms, they get a special treat: I give my "Nick Inspiration" Lecture and share with everyone my story--from growing up in Caracas Venezuela sketching my mom and flight attendants--to finally pursuing my dream of becoming a fashion designer, attending FIDM and of course, my time on Project Runway. I was taken aback by HOW MANY people showed up for my "little ol' lecture":

It was Standing Room Only kiddies! I have been here before doing my "Nick Lectures" for past Open Houses but this was KRAZEE! (good krazee of course!). I think everyone in attendance really enjoyed it (they told me so afterward) and said that "It was really informative, inspirational" and added that I was "really funny!!".

Say "FASHION!": Nick Verreos poses with a Cuppertino-based high school Fashion Club, FIDM SF Open House 2011

Following this, I took photos with anyone who wanted as well as signed FIDM tote bags. As always, it was so much fun meeting everyone--from the high school students to their mommies and daddies!!

Spell Your Name: Nick Verreos signing FIDM tote bags, FIDM SF Open House 2011

Check out That Necklace: Nick Verreos poses with guest--and future fashion designer--FIDM SF Open House 2011

After the Open House was over, I still had several hours before I had to go back to SFO to catch my Virgin America (Love the Mood Lighting!) flight back to Los Angeles, so the FIDM SF ladies decided to send me off with some delicious cocktails and nibblings at...

Kuleto's on Powell in Union Square. Well, darling, the staff there was BEYOND-gracious as they showered my "party" with complimentary Champagne and yummy signature cocktails. Who knew someone at Kuleto's was a fan of Project Runway and TV Guide Red Carpet Shows and moi!? Needless to say, it was a great "Send Off" and a wonderful way to end a very successful Open House lecture. But wait...it wasn't over:

Posing Girls: Nick Verreos and Sutan "Raja" Amrull of "RuPaul's Drag Race Season 3", Union Square San Francisco

All of a sudden, as I'm about to leave, I spotted a friendly face from LA: Sutan Amrull--"Raja Gemini" from "RuPaul's Drag Race Season 3" just walking with his friends. Of course, I ran out and had to say "Hey Girl!" At the same time, we both asked "What are you doing here in SF???" and I told him I was doing my FIDM SF event and Miss Sutan was emcee'ing "Soiree 9: La Dolce Vita" 9Th Anniversary of the San Francisco LGBT Community Center. We then posed and caused a minor scene right there and then, much to the delight of the German tourists walking by. Love me some Raja!!

Now...I was really ready to catch my flight back home to LA--Until next time SF...

Congratulations!

The WINNER of the ShoeTease giveaway is ADRIANA (adri17)!!

Congrats!

Stay tuned for more giveaways!! 

xox

Nick Verreos Will Be In Chicago this Saturday at Macy's State Street!!

Hello Windy City Fashionistas!!!

I'm excited to announce that I will be flying to Chicago this weekend to host a very special "Putting It All Together" Event and Fashion Show at Macy's State Street! EVERYONE is invited--no RSVP needed: ALL of you are VIP! Hello!

I will host a fun event where:
*I will ask members of the audience to style our models in the latest for Spring 2011 for "very special" scenarios--like "How To Dress For A Night Out" to "How To Dress For Your First Date".

*Then, the rest of the audience (make sure to bring your friends and families for applause back-up!) will chose the winners and they will get $100 Macy's Gift Cards!!! (Love that!).

*I'll be giving tips on the "do's" and "maybe not's" for Spring 2011 Fashion as well as What's On Trend.
*If you come out, I'll be taking all the Facebook, Twitter, MySpace pics you want afterward and you might also (an added bonus) end up on my "Macy's Chicago Photo Recap" RIGHT HERE on my BLOG in an upcoming post!!! See you Saturday!

Here Are The Details:
What: Macy's "Putting It All Together" Fashion Event & Contest Hosted by Nick Verreos

Where: Macy's: 111 North State Street Chicago, IL

When: 2pm

RSVP: Just show up!!!

Nick Verreos Wedding Gown sketch for Kate Middleton for Lifetime.com!!!

A Wedding Gown Fit for a (Future) Queen!

Nick Verreos/NIKOLAKI Design for Kate Middleton's Wedding Gown

As part of a "promo" run-up to the Lifetime Network premiere of the much-anticipated "William & Kate: Let Love Rule" movie--based on the romance (of course!) of Prince William and Catherine "Kate" Middleton...

I was asked, along with many, many Project Runway Alumni (over 50 so far!), to submit a sketch for "my vision" for Kate Middleton's wedding gown. After much thought--about two seconds--I said "Of Course!".

As you may know from reading my NICKVERREOS.COM Blog here, I LOVE me a Royal Wedding and I also love me a Royal or two. Reading one too many "Hola!" Magazines as a young child in Venezuela (and still to this day!!) leads to this syndrome I call "Royalty OBSESSED".

I sketched out my idea for Kate's perfect wedding gown which was: An ivory silk mikado fit-to-flare column high-neck drop-shoulder gown with hand-encrusted Swarovski crystals at the neckline, waist and hem of the gown. It featured a plunging back and a detachable train with stiffened cascaded folds for dramatic architectural effect.

My design also has a Chantilly Lace and silk tulle veil and of course, the same Spencer Crown worn by Princess Diana on her Wedding Day (above). White gloves and THAT engagement ring finish off the look.

Hope you like my fashion illustration and design vision for Kate Middleton's Wedding Gown.

Click HERE to check out some of the other great designs the former Project Runway designers sketched for Kate's "Big Day".